CANADA MUST CONDEMN ISRAEL'S ATROCITIES

Following the killing of eight Canadian civilians in Lebanon on Sunday by the Israeli army, Canada's largest Arab and Muslim groups today issued a strong collective warning to the Harper government, urging that it immediately condemn Israeli atrocities in Gaza and Lebanon.

The groups also emphasized that the current conflict has nothing to do with religion, but is clearly caused by the illegal Israeli occupation of Arab lands. The groups also said that Israel should immediately stop its aggression against Lebanon and Gaza

Today's statement was signed by The Canadian Islamic Congress, The Muslim Council of Montreal and the Canadian Arab Federation, which together represent more than one million Canadians.

The three organizations are also appealing to Canadians to write to the Prime Minister and urge him to take a pro-peace with justice position to the crisis rather than the militant pro-Israel position taken by U.S. president George W. Bush.